Our Mandate

The CARICOM Secretariat’s mandate is to contribute, in support of Member States, to the improvement of the quality of life of the People of the Community and the development of an innovative and productive society in partnership with institutions and groups working towards attaining a people-centred, sustainable and internationally competitive Community.

Together the undermentioned structure is responsible for the strategic management and direction of the Organization and for working closely with the Councils and their Chairpersons to promote the implementation of decisions. Our Work is guided by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas

About the Secretariat

Article 23 of the Revised Treaty provides for the Secretariat as the principal administrative organ of the Community with Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana. The Secretariat also has an Office in Barbados and a small satellite unit in Jamaica.

In addition to any functions which may be assigned to it by Organs of the Community, the Secretariat:

services meetings of the Organs and Bodies of the Community and take appropriate follow up action on determinations issuing from such meetings;

initiates, organises and conducts studies on issues for the achievement of the objectives of the Community;

provides, on request, services to the Member States of the Community on matters relating to the achievement of its objectives;

collects, stores and disseminates to the Member States of the Community, information relevant for the achievement of its objectives;

assists Community Organs in the development and implementation of proposals and programmes for the achievement of objectives of the Community;

co-ordinates in relation to the Community the activities of donor agencies, international, regional and national institutions for the achievement of objectives of the Community;

prepares the draft budget of the Community for examination by the Budget Committee;

provides, on request, technical assistance to national authorities to facilitate implementation of Community decisions;

conducts, as mandated, fact-finding assignments in the Member States, and

initiates or develops proposals for consideration and decision by competent Organs in order to achieve Community

Office of the Secretary-General
This office comprises several functions including: The Executive Office, The Internal Audit Unit,The Communications Unit, The Change Management Office. Learn more

Office of the General Counsel
The Office of the General Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice to the Community. In addition to providing legal services to the CARICOM Secretariat (the Administrative Organ of the Community). Learn more

Office of Trade Negotiations
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat’s Office of Trade Negotiations is responsible for developing and maintaining a cohesive framework for coordinating and managing CARICOM’s external trade negotiations resources.Learn more

Directorate for Foreign and Community Relations

Essential to the work of the Directorate is safeguarding and promoting the Community’s interests within the global environment[1]. This is done through the coordination of foreign and external relations evidenced, inter alia, by:

positioning CARICOM in the international environment;
facilitating collaboration, cooperation and strategic alliances with Third States; and
understanding and advocating for the special needs of small open states, sensitive to external shocks of all sorts.Learn more

Directorate for Human and Social Development
Enhancing social resilience is an essential element of CARICOM’s thrust to build “A Community for All”. To this end, sustained human and social development with reduced levels of poverty, equitable access and significant improvement of citizen security underlie the essence of the work of the Directorate of Human and Social Development of the CARICOM SecretariatLearn more

Directorate for Trade and Economic Integration

Sustainable economic development with improved quality of life for the Caribbean Community is the aim of CARICOM’s economic integration; largely conceived through a single economic space, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Establishing and implementing the CSME is at the heart of the work of the Directorate of Trade and Economic Integration of the CARICOM SecretariatLearn more

Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) Directorate
The Forum of the Caribbean Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) is the body that comprises Caribbean ACP States for the purpose of promoting and coordinating policy dialogue, cooperation and regional integration, mainly within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement between the ACP and the European Union and also the CARIFORUM-European Community Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Learn more

The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS, PANCAP, was established by a Declaration of CARICOM Heads of Government on 14 February 2001 in response to the threat of HIV to sustainable human development.

PANCAP provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinates the response through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS (CRSF) to maximise efficient use of resources and increase impact, mobilises resources and build capacity of partners.